How long were any of you having symptoms before your rheumy did an MRI? Is there a time period of being in this pain before any deterioration will show? I've been treated with steroids and now Relafen and am going to my second rheumy appt Tuesday. Is it too early to ask for an MRI? Thank you, I'm so glad I found this forum. DiHi stilldi.... I just sent you a reply under the "new here... is this arthritis" category. Glad to hear you are going to a different RD. My RD didn't do an MRI, just blood and listens to me when I tell him how I am reacting and how I feel. Maybe this new RD will be on your side and take control. Ask him any questions you need to.... even ask him about an MRI... good luck No MRI, but my RD did xrays of my hands and feet right away to provide a baseline for future tests to see if there's any cumulative damage. So far, after 3 years I have some bone erosion but nothing severe. I repeat the xrays once a year.
My RD did x-rays on my first visit.....and I've had them about every year since just to document the damage. I do have errisions; but it wasn't until last year (11 years into RA) that an MRI was ordered for some back problems I was having.
Even with great insurance I ended up having to pay about 0 out of pocket. It's not something I'd insist on unless you are having problems that are not being addressed. X-rays will show errisions if that's what you are worried about and they are a lot less expensive.
MRI's just aren't ordered routinely mainly because they cost so much. Often they only confirm what they already know.
Now if your insurance will pay for it or if cost is not a factor; you can always insist. Sometimes peace of mind goes a long way....and an MRI might give you that; but it's unlikely to give you much more.
Good Luck.
My RD did X-rays first, but did say that if the X-rays came back normal he was going to do a MRI. Which is what happened. My X-rays were normal, I'm RF negative, but had all the classic symptoms. My MRI did show bone erosion in my knuckles and excessive fluid on my joints.
I have since gone to a different RD who was recommended to me by a family friend. He was SOOO much more positive and treated me as a patient, not just as a disease. He really listened to me and is willing to work my treatment around my life right now (my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. My other RD only wanted to put me on methotrexate or nothing. He didn't understand my choice to not get on the MTX and have a child first. Even when I told him I have fertility issues in my family and am 29.)
Thank you all--I'm off to the RD tomorrow a.m.... I'll let you know.
Di